By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
Plans that aim to deliver a connected network of green and blue spaces across Southampton have been approved by council leaders.
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A key part of the city council’s green infrastructure strategy, which was adopted in January, is to deliver the ‘Green Grid’.
Members of the authority’s cabinet approved a delivery plan for the strategy at a Civic Centre meeting on Tuesday, October 29.
Cllr John Savage, cabinet member for green city and net zero, said the aim is for Southampton to be “more resilient” to the effects of climate change and address a loss of connected good quality green and ‘blue’ sites, those that feature water.
“The environment is actually just so important to the whole of the city,” Cllr Savage said.
“The health and wellbeing of the people who live here but also for the biodiversity that lives within it.”
The Portswood ward member said the current drivers behind green infrastructure problems in Southampton included increased pressure from development, sealed surfaces, pollution and poorly designed green infrastructure.
Southampton’s ‘Green Grid’ would provide a network of infrastructure with proposed connections linking sites together, cabinet heard.
Other parts of the plan, which runs from 2024 to 2030, include protecting existing blue and green spaces, increasing the number of local nature reserves, and making sure existing green spaces have clear signage and contain appropriate facilities.
Riverside Park by the River Itchen
Funding will be used from both external sources like grants and internal avenues such as developer contributions.
Cllr Savage said the plan featured a lot of collaborative working with partners.
The plan has three themes:
- Understanding the financial and environmental value of green and blue assets, protecting them from inappropriately designed and, or, located development and ensuring these assets are managed properly.
- Improving and extending green and blue infrastructure, making sure it is more accessible for people, well maintained and offers the right facilities, while also ensuring the city is adapting to climate change.
- Extending and creating more green infrastructure, reconnecting broken links in the ‘Green Grid’ and working with Hampshire County Council on the Hampshire-wide Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
A report to cabinet said the delivery plan is a necessary document for the strategy as it provides a clear set of goals and specify timeframes for these objectives.
Council leader Cllr Lorna Fielker said: “We are a city by sea and water. We need to make sure that more residents can access it.
“Sometimes I do forget we’re a city by the sea and water because I live in the north of the city.
“It is important for us just for general resident health, population wellbeing but also attracting people into Southampton.”
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